deverellsmith Launches 2026 Rental Living Salary Guide with SAY Property and The Land Collective
Specialist property recruiter deverellsmith has published its 2026 rental living salary guide, produced with SAY Property Consultants and including insights from social mobility organisation The Land Collective. Released on 21 January 2026, the guide benchmarks pay from entry level to senior leadership across investment, development, asset management, central operations, on-site management and corporate roles, and draws on an independent survey of more than 100 sector professionals.
The report describes a market that is "unfreezing". Vacancies rose 20% year on year and successful placements increased 38%, driven mainly by operational hiring as schemes complete and portfolios mature. Candidates, however, are staying put and choosing their next move carefully. Maintenance and facilities roles have seen notable salary pressure, as higher resident expectations and more complex compliance requirements have turned them into key drivers of asset performance.
Career progression emerged as the biggest retention issue. It was the leading reason people left their previous job, yet only around a quarter of respondents feel advancement routes in their current organisation are very clear. Most people also entered the sector by accident rather than by choice. The Land Collective’s contribution argues that structured pathways and early exposure to the sector, particularly for under-represented groups, can change this.
Most respondents consider their pay fair or average, but few see it as highly competitive. Better base salary or bonus is the main trigger for moving, while flexibility, work–life balance, supportive culture and meaningful work are key reasons to stay.
Hannah Taylor, manager for living EMEA at deverellsmith, said employers who can demonstrate the right balance of progression, flexibility and pay will win talent. SAY Property founder and CEO Debra Yudolph said turning accidental careers into intentional, well-supported pathways is a major opportunity for owners and operators.
Source: deverellsmith, originally published on The Landsite (23 January 2026)
